1 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof . 3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge. 4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them .
13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. 20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. 24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other , and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
Ījabs: ļaunums un vardarbība valda virs zemes
1 Kāpēc Visuvarenais nav noteicis laikus
un slēpj savas dienas tiem, kas viņu pazīst?
2 Ļaundari robežas pārceļ,
lopus nolaupa un sev gana,
3 bāreņa ēzeli aizdzen,
ņem par ķīlu atraitnes vērsi,
4 trūcīgo nogrūž no ceļa!
Visi nabagi meklē slēpties,
5 kā mežēzeļi tie tuksnesī dodas
un nopūlas iztiku meklēt,
klajumā lūko barību bērniem,
6 tīrumā tie mistrus sašķin,
ļaundara vīnadārzā tie plūc,
7 kaili tie guļ, jo drānu nav
un nav apsega salā,
8 kalnu lietū tie mirkst,
nav patvēruma – klinti tie skauj.
9 Tiem bāreni atrauj no krūts
un no nabaga ņem ķīlu!
10 Kaili tie skraida, tiem drānu nav,
izsalkuši tie kūļus nes,
11 eļļu tie spiež starp akmeņiem,
min vīnspaidu, bet pašiem slāpst.
12 Pilsētā cilvēki vaid,
nokauto dvēseles brēc,
bet Dievs nemana nelietību!
13 Ir tādi, kas spītē gaismai,
tās ceļus tie nezina,
nestaigā tās takās.
14 Pirms ausmas slepkava ceļas,
nabagu un trūcīgo nokauj,
pa nakti tas zogas kā zaglis.
15 Laulības pārkāpēja acis mijkrēsli gaida,
saka: nemanīs mani ne acs! –
Savu vaigu tas aizsedz.
16 Tumsā tie namus uzlauž,
bet dienā sēž ieslēgušies,
gaismas tie nejauš.
17 Rīts tiem visiem kā nāves ēna,
tiem tīk šaušalas un nāves ēna.
18 Ūdeņi tādus aizmēž!
Nolādēts viņu zemes gabals,
nenāks tie savā vīnadārzā!
19 Izkaltusi zeme un tveice ņem sniega ūdeņus,
kaps ņem grēciniekus.
20 Mātes klēpis aizmirsīs tos,
mielosies ar viņiem tārpi,
nepieminēs tos nekur –
lūst netaisnība kā koks!
21 Tie aplaupa neauglīgu sievu bez bērniem
un atraitnei nedara labu.
22 Viņš varenos izvazā ar savu spēku,
kad viņš ceļas, tie necer vairs dzīvot.
23 Viņš dara tos drošus un spēcina,
bet viņa acis vēro to ceļus!
24 Tie ceļas uz brīdi un vairs nav,
tie iznīkst kā visi, tie līkst,
kā vārpu gali tie vīst.
25 Vai tā nav – kas man uzrādīs melus?
Kurš atspēkos manus vārdus?”
